Armenia will host Division IV
The Kuwait national team achieved its highest performance in the World Championship by securing 2nd place in Division IV in 2024. This marks their fourth appearance in the tournament.
The Falcons have previously competed in the Division IIIB qualifiers on two occasions but were unable to progress to the main tournament. As a result, they have yet to surpass the fourth division in their championship history.
Despite their efforts, the team has consistently faced challenges in advancing beyond the lower divisions, highlighting the competitive nature of the World Championship.
The most recent Division IV World Championship took place in Kuwait, where the host nation secured the runner-up position. They achieved victories against both Malaysia and Indonesia; however, they were defeated by Mongolia, the eventual champion of the tournament.
The leading scorer of the most recent Division IV World Championship was Ilya Drozdetskikh, a forward from Kuwait. At 26 years old, this Tyumen native has been a member of the Asian team since 2022. Prior to his international career, he competed in over 150 games in the MHL with Mamonty Yugra, where he advanced to the conference finals of the Kharlamov Cup during the 2018-2019 season. Additionally, he participated in 17 matches in the VHL for Zauralye, based in Kurgan.
As a forward, Drozdetskikh’s ability to score and assist has made him a key player for Kuwait, and his journey from Russia to representing a national team underscores his commitment to hockey. His background in various leagues has not only honed his skills but also enriched his understanding of the game, making him a valuable asset to his current team.
Kuwait is currently ranked 52nd in the IIHF standings.
The Iranian national team’s top achievement at the World Championship is securing 5th place in Division IIIB in 2023.
The upcoming World Championship in Armenia marks the fourth appearance for the Iranian national team in this prestigious event. Previously, in 2022, the team competed in Division IV, where they finished second in their group, which included Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Kuwait, successfully earning a promotion to Division IIIB.
This progression highlights the growth and development of Iranian hockey on the international stage, as the team continues to strive for excellence in future competitions.
Iran is currently ranked 54th in the IIHF standings
The Malaysian national team achieved its best performance at the World Championship by securing 4th place in Division IV in 2022. This marked their debut in the tournament, and their strong showing led to their promotion to a higher division.
In their second appearance at the World Championship, the team competed in Division IIIB the following year but unfortunately lost all their matches, resulting in a return to the previous division. In 2024, the team faced challenges once again, failing to secure a victory but managing to earn one point after a narrow overtime loss to Indonesia, with a final score of 6-7.
Azra Amir Faris emerged as Malaysia’s leading scorer during the last World Championship, contributing significantly to the team’s efforts. He participated in three matches and recorded a total of three points, with a scoring breakdown of one goal and two assists.
Malaysia is currently ranked 58th in the IIHF standings.
The Indonesian national team achieved its highest performance in the World Championship by securing third place in Division IV in 2024. This marks the team’s third appearance at the tournament. During their inaugural participation in 2023, they finished in fourth place, but improved their standing the following year by clinching third place in the same division. Notably, they also celebrated their first-ever victory in World Championship history, defeating Malaysia 7-6 in overtime.
Ronald Wijaya holds the record as the top scorer in Indonesian national team history. The 35-year-old forward has accumulated a total of 26 points (13 goals and 13 assists) across all tournaments. In the most recent World Championship, he contributed 3 points (1 goal and 2 assists) over the course of 3 games, further solidifying his status as a key player for the team.
The progress of the Indonesian national team in the World Championship reflects their growing competitiveness on the international stage. With a strong performance in 2024 and a historic win under their belt, the team is poised for continued success in future tournaments, driven by standout players like Wijaya who consistently deliver impressive results.
Indonesia is currently ranked 58th in the IIHF standings.
The journey of the Armenian national team is quite remarkable. Following a challenging period where they placed last in the Division III tournaments of 2004 and 2005, including a staggering 48–0 defeat against Mexico, they achieved a significant milestone in 2006. That year, they celebrated their first victories by triumphing over both Ireland and Luxembourg in their initial two matches.
In 2008, Armenia had to pull out of a Division III qualification tournament held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after its delegation declined to present their passports to IIHF officials. This situation led to a two-year ban for Armenia from participating in any IIHF events. Additionally, it was found that Armenia’s U20 team had utilized ineligible players during the tournament.
n 2010, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) granted Armenia the opportunity to participate once more, stipulating that the country must submit its final roster six months before any IIHF events. That same year, Armenia hosted the IIHF World Championship Division III in Yerevan. Following significant victories against South Africa and Mongolia, Armenia narrowly defeated DPR Korea with a score of 7-6.
Armenia’s success in the tournament continued as they advanced to the gold medal match against DPR Korea. However, despite their earlier triumphs, Armenia was unable to secure the championship title, ultimately losing the final game 5-2. This defeat also meant that they missed the chance to advance to Division II for the following year, 2011.
Shortly after the tournament concluded, IIHF officials conducted an investigation and found that Armenia had once again fielded ineligible players. As a result, the team was suspended indefinitely, and all their statistics and final scores were removed from the IIHF records. Consequently, every game played by the team was recorded as a 5–0 forfeit against them.
Armenia makes its return to the IIHF World Championship after a 15-year absence.
The national ice hockey team of Uzbekistan is set to make its inaugural appearance at the World Championship.
In 2023, Uzbekistan marked its inaugural official match against another national team. Competing in the Kazan Hockey Cup held in Kazan, Russia, they achieved a remarkable victory over Bahrain, winning 17–0, which stands as their most significant triumph against a national opponent.
While their previous two matches were against club teams and did not hold official status, Uzbekistan showcased their skills by defeating the Jeddah Eagles, a Saudi Arabian club, with a score of 4–2.
Following this, they faced a challenging encounter against a combined team from Algeria, Lebanon, and Morocco, where they experienced a narrow defeat, losing 3–2.
Fans and supporters are eagerly anticipating this historic event, which showcases the growth of ice hockey in Uzbekistan.
